My Heartfelt Note to Mercara

A view of Mercara. Photo by: Bommanda Savera Chengappa

Mercara...you and I have both aged. On every visit of mine, I recharge myself by just looking at the hills and soaking up on the sheer essence of you. As a little girl growing up in Mercara, I had a sense of ownership of you. I felt you were mine. In fact I still do.

I remember early mornings the hills looked like little islands and the clouds surrounding it looked like the sea and it never failed to amaze me. Raja seat was very peaceful, manicured lawns and flowers at the edge in a well planned manner. The view in front was so beautiful that one didn't need to do much with the garden itself.

This morning I decided to enter Raja Seat and look at the hills. The garden itself looks chaotic with too many elements in it including horrendous looking dinosaurs. And the hills dotted with buildings. I had to raise my camera high to get the old look of you.

My heart cried Mercara and then suddenly through the hills you spoke to me. You put the thought in my head ...Both of us have changed..You and I.

The little Savera was pure, Pristine and uncomplicated just like you were. The 50 year old me has a lot more baggage, scars and conflicts. The difference is that mine is mostly self inflicted like it is with humans but yours has been inflicted on you by us Humans.

I search for the glimpses of the old you the same way that I search for the glimpses of the old me in the mirror. I can do some kind of shadow work and if not eliminate, at least lessen the scars and complications.

But what about you?? Mercara..my heart weeps for you and for me. For you because you don't have the luxury of doing shadow work on yourself because you are at the mercy of different varieties of humans who if they had taken the trouble of working on themselves wouldn't have unleashed this greed on you which has inflicted these scars.

I weep for myself because my beloved Mercara who I truly love is slipping from my grasp. And deep inside I know very soon you are going to be paradise lost for me and there's not a damn I can do about it.

Mercara..the ravages of time are seen on both you and me..we have aged you and I.

But through it all..I have loved you and will do till the end of times

(Views expressed are the author’s own.)

About Author: Bommanda Savera Chengappa is a freelance Psychotherapist and Counsellor. She has authored a book titled Soulful Sojourn - A tale of two souls based on the life story of her maternal grandparents Pandianda .I.Belliappa and Seethamma Belliappa who were legendary freedom fighters. She is a an Alumnus of St.Joseph's Convent,Madikeri and Jyoti Nivas College Bangalore. Married to an army officer Col.Dhiraj Chengappa,She now lives in Delhi.

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